Congrats to Vettel-Alonso-Button... a well deserved 2nd WDC and win respectively. Well, other than the top 3 teams putting on a massive show for the fans worldwide... the rest of the grid were doing the same fighting for some solid points. As usual I reckon some moves warranted a penalty... but I enjoyed them fully anyhow. (Vettel did a Schumacher at the start!) Entertaining as it was the top driver other than the front 5/6 was Michael Schumacher, he got off to a brilliant start and was edged out slightly by a very defensive but equally aware Webber who was reluctant to give up (understandably). Michael grappled for the top end of the "other" teams throughout the race, at one point he was in the lead (but it obviously wasn't going to count for much other than a bit of poignancy)... The 42 year old had some scraps with Webber and Massa towards the end of the race and ended in a solid 6th position behind Hamilton and ahead of Massa. So what does this mean? Well this season we have seen a great increase in composure and pace as well as defensive and attacking race craft from Michael, Canada was a highlight for the season bringing the Silver Arrows their best result, as well as Monza and Spa... both classic tracks Michael felt comfortable with throughout. Suzuka was a track I knew he would be strong on, and he was... edging out Massa in a faster Ferrari (taking into account older tyres) for position as well as consistent times and pace throughout the weekend. Nico Rosberg is now only 3 points ahead of Michael compared to last year where there was a collosal 70-80 point gap... Can we draw any conclusions? Well I would find that Michael Schumacher is finding his feet where other drivers are falling in a downward spiral, slower than expected yes...but in reflection to last year he I think already has... 2012 awaits.
But what good does it ultimately do him? Top-dog in the 4th best car is hardly the place he wants to be. He came back to win races and maybe another WDC, not battle to 5th/6th place and then say after 3 years, well I ended up being better than my team-mate so it was worth it. Schuey likes stats, so his wins/podiums/poles/points per race ratio is on a donwward spiral
When you want to win a race or WDC, you have to beat your teammate first... that is what I mean. As you must know Mercedes are on a long-term project, Michael is providing top class results out of the failure of a car in 2011. Inconsistency has been caused by Mechanical issues or misjudgments, of which he has apologised and admitted unlike other drivers...(I think I have kicked that dog long enough <I admit.. sorry. ) But he is now at peace with himself his teammate and the team, they can only look forward. My thread was to analyse his progress from 2010, when he was arse raped by the press and media because of some of his shocking performances, at least this year he has some hefty results on his side.
No because I am convinced Nico is faster. If Schumacher doesn't finish ahead of Nico and finish on the podium at least once next season then he should leave at the end of it.
I am convinced Nico is faster. Race pace or Qualifying? If Schumacher doesn't finish ahead of Nico and finish on the podium at least once next season then he should leave at the end of it. I agree with Schumacher having the postential to beat Nico this or next season, the podium depends on the car though... Leave? Mercedes need him because of his on and off-track knowledge.
Schumacher had a solid race and has certainly been better that last season, but Rosberg is still the quicker driver in both quali and the race, in the last few races things have not really come together for him but he is still in my opinion easily the better driver.
I am certain Schumacher will produce his best when he gets a championship winning car, the question is will he get that chance over the next few years.
1. Both to be honest, though in Canada Michael was really on it and that was easily his best drive since his comeback and was much better than Rosberg. He needs to do that more often next year. Belgium was quite good too, while I thought his behaviour in Monza was 1997-Spec Michael not 2011-Spec. 2. Maybe so they need him for knowledge but what's the point if they cannot compete for wins and get close to the top three teams.
For point 2: If you imagine both drivers and put them in a capable car then who is to halt them? Knowledge from these 2-3 years is profitable as the team can perfect a winning car that can manage all types of circuits comfortably as Redbull have done. As an underlining comment, I am happy with Michael's result today, most people last year through him into the dustbin, and a at year older (42) he is leading a handful of laps ahead of drivers half his age, he managed to catch and hold on to the younger drivers in faster cars, as well as overtaking and keeping Massa behind him. That was the true Michael today.
I think MS has been top dog at Mercedes since day 1, he brings in the cash and has a proven past. Whether he can live up to his past is another thing but Brawn seems to have faith in him and is willing to build a car to suit him. From the outside MS doesn't seem to be the driver he once was, but the list of worse drivers in F1 far outstretches the list of better drivers in my mind. With the reg changes now in 2014 I don't think we'll get to see MS in a dominant car before he retires again, but with a little improvement from him and his car he'll show his face on the podium one last time.... Maybe.
Nico is still the faster driver manny. Tyre advanatge has assisted Michael about 3-4 times this year while Nico was fighting with the front runners until his tyres fell apart. Schumacher has improved no doubt, but he still hasnt overtaken Nico in the same car. Michael is obviously the number 1 in the team, since he dictates the development and can choose whatever number he wants.
Schumacher has improved no doubt, but he still hasnt overtaken Nico in the same car. It would have happened in Singapore, -1 second a lap gain on Rosberg was cut short when he took off into the air
Was his move on Perez a practice move that went wrong!? I think he was going to take the phrase 'put one on your teammate' a bit too literally.......
Hahaha, no I don't think so, he wanted to go on the inside, but Perez broke really early.. Michael lost front aero and lifted up.
Impossible to say at the moment. Schumacher is really getting into a groove at the moment and seems to be settling into this newer format of Formula One but it did take a while. I don't believe we've seen the best of Rosberg for a while now but he has had his fair share of bad luck. But I'll still wait until the end of the season to make a verdict.
YAWN, Schuimacher beat Rosberg because Rosbergs car was ****ed for Qualifying and he had to start at the back. Rosberg is faster than Schumacher in almost every single race, qualifies ahead of him almost every single race and beats him nearly every single race. It takes someone without firm grip on reality to suggest otherwise.
So you are saying I don't have a firm grip on reality. I know he is only 3 points behind Rosberg in the championship. Do your research and compare that to last year. Look at Michael's race pace this season, also at where he has had to DNF because of mechanical failure. Do you take this into account in Schumacher's campaign? or his recent top 5 finishes? Wow. I may be a tad bias, but you are unbelievable, atleast I admit when I am wrong.. and look at both sides of the argument.
There's no "top dog" at Mercedes. Alonso and Vettel are probably the only top dogs at their respective teams, because they're the only drivers who are so much better than their teammates as to justify clear-cut favourtism from the team. I do however think that Michael can finish above Nico in the standings. This is a weird thing to say about a 42 year old, but looking at Schumacher's progression over this season, you'd have to make him favourite to beat Nico next year too.
It is wierd, as he is getting older you think he will get slower, but progress is very evident within this team.
